It looks like the newly-released revision to the New World Translation is already a “limited edition”

Only a few days have passed since the revised New World Translation was released at the 129th Annual Meeting. But it looks like the first printing of this Bible (or “silver sword,” as some have nicknamed it) is already a limited edition.

Former Witnesses have found an error in the new Bible, ironically in the book of Numbers. The header to page 267 shows the page numbers going down from Numbers chapter 35 to Numbers chapter 33. The header should instead read “Numbers 32:37-33:22.” At the time of writing, this typo is also in the PDF version.

JWsurvey readers will remember Geoffrey Jackson’s grand unveiling of this new Bible, in which he suggested that Jehovah was responsible for the favorable weather conditions at Wallkill while it was being printed. If true, this would mean that Jehovah saw fit to manipulate the weather to speed up printing but somehow neglected to make sure Watchtower’s proofreaders were sufficiently scrupulous.

The header to page 267 from the revised New World Translation

Though not a huge mistake by any stretch, the typo does highlight that Watchtower publications are not as error-free as many Witnesses are led to believe. It will also be a source of considerable embarrassment to Watchtower that they must now correct their newly-revised Bibles and begin a new print run – with thousands of the faulty Bibles already in circulation. Watchtower’s writing team will also likely want to double-check each page to see whether there are any similar errors lurking elsewhere.

And those English-speaking Witnesses fortunate enough to receive the first new Bibles now have evidence in their book bags that Watchtower’s proofreaders are not as meticulous as you would expect.

Are you earning a living from this? If JWs are not a true religion, a thing which you realized after being booted out, why can’t you leave them and move on with your life, while practicing what you think is the right religion for you? All these antics are found in all religions by their former members which can rightly be interpreted as sour grapes.

I’ve been df-ed over 35 years now and never thought that the wt god they called jehovah was ever the real god I knew as a child, before the lethal death machine got my mother to join in the holding of bloody hands, that every jw has, whether they are active or just being a fraud for the sake of whatever excuse they want to put in there.

Narrow & cramped is the road leading off to life? Get the quote correct:

Matt 7:14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Luke 13:24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”

Who is the gate? Who is the Way?

So, if we must go with the numbers game, that would mean, if your group is growing in numbers, it is no longer on a narrow and cramped path?

However, we know the Wt always applied that scripture exclusively to the anointed–a finite group of 144,000 not the general JW population..

Not the mentally diseased masses who chomp down the unleavened wafers and gulp down the wine at Memorial time. The GB is probably trimming that verse back to themselves even as we discuss this, now.

Every denomination that has arisen without direct, evident apostolic succession claims there were believers of their theology in the 1st century. And, there probably were because the records of history show that 1st century Christianity was a hotbed of diverse ideas, including Gnostic Christianity. The wealthiest and more influential cities and families eventually dominated what would become the major standard.

It’s interesting that you mention the Adventists not existing in the first century because neither were Jehovah’s Witnesses present at that time, yet they’ve inevitably striven to draw a line of succession from themselves through Waldensians back to the first century. And, coincidentally, so do Adventists and so do Christadelphians.

I will correct that the version of df-ing used by most churches does not involve shunning, exceptions being Amish and Mennonites, and some Latter-Day Saint groups, only removing one from membership. JW’s take it to a medieval, inquisition level of torture by loading remaining family and membership with images of demons attacking should they even make eye contact with former members. In this way, it is linked directly to the form of rebuke used by many of the Adventist Founding Fathers and Mother who used df-ing to ostracize those they found unfavorable or out-of-step with their wishes.

Many non-JW’s often will tell someone who is conflicted with being JW and disagreeing with the group, “just leave; can’t you find another church?” But, as you also posted, rather ironically, the adherent is reminded constantly, “Where else can you go to hear the ‘sayings of truth’?” With that blasted into the mind, those who are uninformed about other denominations–2nd, 3rd, 4th generation JW’s–would be reluctant and feeling trapped–self-destructive, if not suicidal.

This same sentiment is echoed by those who remain JW–seeing the group as the sole source of “the Truth”. Often the quote is, “Who HAS the Truth?” Yet, Jesus gave an answer in scripture that does not fit this question. And, in a metaphorical Jeopardy game, the question is, “Who IS the Truth?” The Bible never answers the perverted question, “Who has the Truth”.

The error has been fixed in the new new New World Translation in PDF format on the official website. Apart from fixing the heading in Numbers, there are only two other changes to the text: 1) Number of available languages reported as “120” instead of “110”. 2) “August 2013 Printing” is changed to “October 2013 Printing”.

Current literature puts the 1914 calculation based on the 7 Gentile times=2520 years from 607 BCE. The only issue might be the year 607 BCE where there is some dispute by authorities, but certainly not by a wide margin. IIRC I’ve seen some put it 25 years from that. My point, if it is the time of the end, the WT has the message right. Pinning it to a date has never worked out and in fact Jesus said no one would know. But parallel this to world events such a Fukushima close to a full catastrophe, global warming, mass extinction, you can sense these are unprecedented times.

Why is everybody so hastily looking for errors in the revised New world Translation? Nobody is saying anything about the revised King James versioon which is the worst most incorrect translation of any Bible into any language. Many people keep using it. is it because you can’t, according to the King James, sin in any way.

You can’t just stay away from any church and say you resigned. You have to write a letter stating that you resign. Exactly the same with Jehovah’s Witnesses. When stopping to attend meetings or doing field service does not mean that you resigned

As a former JW, I wonder how before they realise that the error is not the bible translation but doctrines? Long being deceived that scripture show the Great Crowd was on earth. When all the time scripture showed they are in heaven. Revelation 7:15 shows the great crowd ‘they’ rendering sacred service day and night “IN” THE TEMPLE. Not towards or before but IN. Which is in heaven. So they must be in heaven!!

Very interesting to see how you use you words. According to your use of specific words, it show me that you weren’t really one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. If you really are somebody that want the Bible to rule your life, then you will never follow people as you did. You don’t follow Witnesses or the Governing Body. You study their guidelines together with your Bible and you then follow GOD’s Word

I am a JW in good standing who is very much aware of what is going on and still cannot figure out what to do. I agree with Peter at John 6:68. Where else can I go where I would not be forced to believe the pagan Greek-inspired hellfire, immortal soul, and all good people go to heaven doctrines?

I have a lot of issues with this version of the NWT, however, and am very appalled that it appears to have been, at the least, dumbed-down. All of the beautiful prose and poetry have been castrated, and, as Hakizimana Jean de Dieu points out above, the strength of the original phraseology has been greatly watered down.

My biggest concern is that, formerly, the WTS translated every occurrence of “nephesh” and “psyche” as “soul,” making it clear that a soul is the person him/herself. The latest edition has chosen to interpret many of the occurrences differently, confusing the issue, just as Christendom had done in previous times. Ezekiel 18:20 has been left intact–for now–but it seems like a step in the wrong direction to vary from the consistent translations of those two very important terms.

This is to be expected, I guess, now that there are very few anointed brothers within Bethel. Not that the old anointed ones were worth much; I have a feeling that either they were mistaken about their spiritual calling, lying about it, or that they lost it as they compromised with Satan’s elements on the inside and outside of the organization. “Many are called; few are chosen” (Matt. 22:14), which explains why the number of anointed is rising, much to the FDS’ chagrin: Jehovah is still calling faithful ones to replace the corrupt ones who lost their crown.

I suppose I have just answered my own question. If Jehovah is still calling anointed ones from within the ranks of JWs, despite the fuming response from Bethel toward these newly anointed ones, then it seems clear that Jehovah is still using the organization…for the time being. This makes perfect sense, since the pattern was set with how He handled ancient Israel. They strayed and were corrupted for most of their history, yet Jehovah did not reject them completely until they killed Christ. Which may mean that the FDS class will turn on the newly–and truly–anointed ones in the same manner in which the Pharisees turned on Christ, one of their own, out of jealousy and a fear of losing their power from Satan’s political entities. That, too, should be expected, since Jesus warned that his brothers, the anointed, would be persecuted in the same manner he was (John 15:20). So, the reaction from Bethel toward the newly anointed ones (many of whom must partake in secret, as the venom is very apparent and is a real threat from the elders all the way to the top, I would imagine) may very well be the key to when to leave the Society and head for the hills (Matt. 24:15, 16). Let the reader use discernment. 🙂

Welcome to our website! I commend your genuine search for truth. You sound like a decent guy.

All I would say in response to your last paragraph, is that you are not the only one trapped in a “purgatory” of sorts where the belief is held that the organization has clearly gone astray but must still have a place in God’s plan. Please think about this carefully and follow things through to their logical conclusion, however painful that may be. Could not this argument be applied to ANY Christian denomination, the catholic church included? If religions are to be so easily let off the hook when they err, what makes any one of them unique?

I was looking for info about the revised edition, but you people are just bitter. Get a life people. Stop being so bitter, can’t you see the truth when you see it. Leave those people alone, at least they live by principles!

I thought Bright Flaxen Wick was female for some reason. Sorry if mistaken. Doesn’t matter. Want to add that to me the thing about Peter saying to whom shall I go didn’t mean which autocracy of men shall I go to but more along the vein of not leaving Jesus. What about considering that “getting out of her” may include the JWs book-publishing company and trusting that the way will be shown you. Live into the unknowns rather than requiring a modern-day crutch. Jesus himself left the religion of his youth and replaced it with a law of love. How about imitating that rather than replacing it with a new set of rules off a printing press bowed down to like an idol by men worshipped like idols. It’s scary, I know, but so worth it.

mark, I called a friend that has the new silver bible and confirmed that what you said is true about those scriptures in Genesis and Exodus. Thanks for that. I find it interesting. To me it says a lot about how their bias sways their translation even when it’s completely unnecessary. It says a lot to me. I hope others pick up on it too.

mark, thanks again. I called a friend that has the new silver sword translation and confirmed that those scripts in Genesis and Exodus are contradictory as you said. It says a lot to me about how their priorities and biases impact their translation completely unnecessarily. Hard to picture a God giving them spirit allowing a basic contradiction like that. If they can’t get that much right then how can the deeper things be trusted. I hope others pick up on glaring errors like that too and see the significance and waste no more time procrastinating life we are given for some idealistic rhetoric we are promised by mere men who treat their bible like an alcoholic treats his bottle. Too many are just so desperate or greedy for more life than is naturally granted to a human, so they fall prey to false prophets promising eternal life. If only they would see how completely fulfilling life can be without all the mythological rhetoric.

The problem is that if the foundation is bad then everthing that follows will be a lie .
Think of a house on a faulty foundation .
That is why Jesus said to build on the solid rock of divine revelation aka his word and not the sinking sand of human speculation : Mat 7:24 .
Jude commands us to contend earnestly for the faith once given to the saints .
Just as Jesus Christ offered that sacrifice once and only once in the same way God gave us the faith once and only once via the Apostles which they wrote and now appear as the New Testament , the Doctrine of Christ .
2 John 7 tells us that if we abide not in this doctrine we do not have God .
2 Tim 4 speaks of men not enduring sound doctrine .
It is being fulfilled even as we speak .

Hi my name is damien Auksorius , my grandfather was a Jehovah’s Witness and he enjoyed using the King James Bible , this was the bible that they used back then , apparently this king James is the most accurate translation at the moment .

Were you ever associated with Jehovah’s Witnesses yourself? Or, was it only your grandfather?

I enjoy reading the KJV myself.

I don’t know that there really is “the most accurate translation”. They all contain errors of some kind. I have found a site where it will pull the same scripture up from 25 translations so that you can compare them to each other.

Moses completely destroyed the original tablets that contained the 10 commandments. Afterward, God had him simply carve out 2 new tablets.
The governing body make one simple printing error in the NWT and that’d proof they do not have Gods spirit? Like Moses, they corrected the error by simply carving out new tablets, I’m mean new bibles.

Ime at the moment still with the JW faith,but I have to say re the new translation,it’s just a huge fail,more than half the cross references have been removed,it feels to me that the GB don’t really want anyone to seriously study the Bible.They want to control what you study.
At the release of the new bible Guy Pierce talked about some of the changes,one that stood out was John17:3,it got changed from “taking in knowledge ” of God to “know God”.
Now that may be insignificant to a new JW, but for most of my 40 yrs in the truth that scripture was hammered in talks,studys,assembly parts CO visits pioneer meetings etc,and now it’s changed,and guess what,it now reads identical to the KJV,a bible that Guy Pierce said was inadequate,ah the contradictions!

I think the the NWT is awesome. I do like the 2013 version, however if they have made some changes, I will be disappointed. I was a fan of the 1984 version and if need be I will just use that one. I am displeased with the wording when they use Homosexual I was surprised that they would use that word. It is an incorrect translation. Just thought it was interesting and wanted to see what other passages say. It really seems more like the current bibles that are out their. I have looked in other Bibles and have decided to stick with Darby. I have spoken to Bible Students and they also like the Darby. (Bible students that broke away from the society when Rutherford took over and changed everything)

@lover of Jehovah ,I also like the 1984 edition,I think it is the pinnacle of NWT,
After that it’s all downhill,as REAL bible study is not encouraged,only what the GB has said should be studied
I have 9 different translations that I use,some words that make a difference are important,ie proskenao,translated worship in most bibles but mistranslated as obeisance to fit in with wt theology in the NWT ,the noun in Greek is proskenaotes translated worshipper never obeisancer in all instances,showing a clear dishonesty in NWT

I’m excited that I found the Kingdom Interlinear Greek Scriptures online only yesterday. Someone on Amazon or Ebay?? has one for sale for $250.00. I believe I threw mine away when I purged Watchtower from my life. Who knew how valuable some of those books would turn out to be! Perhaps I was too hasty………..Naaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

I have been a Jw for 45 years and will die one as they speak the truth only! When the water came down at the time of the flood you can bet 1000’s of people were banging on the ships door Noah let me in but God sealed the door shut so they ALL drowned! At Armageddon About 6 BILLON people will DIE!!!!! And all the o lord save me will not help YOU!!!!!! There is a reason we changed our new bible it is not incorrect!!!!! There is a reason for the changes, an they do NOT change the meanings at all!!!!! Look what all the other CHURCHES are doing to day they are into ALL the thing that GOD condems Etc!!!!!! We JW”s are preaching the GOOD NEW’S as the bible say’s we should be doing. If are a JW use our and stay where you are and STOP grumbling about petty things!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You do not want to be one of the 6 or billon screaming please let me in at harmagdon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Irwin

@iwrn, I was a JW for 50 of my 70 years and I always believed from the bottom of my heart that the Society would never lie to us.

All those years, I’d say to people who complained about the elders or others in the Organization, that no matter what that what we got from the Society was good for us and perfect in every way.

I’d tell people that even if I never saw the new world, that our way of life was still the best way of life and I wasn’t serving Jehovah for the reward but because I loved Jehovah and no matter what, it was never Jehovah’s fault and we could never hold it against Jehovah.

That was me for 50 years out of those 70 years. But now I look back and I have to say that I never let myself think deeply about all the little things that didn’t jive with what the Bible like how Jesus said that nobody should call themselves our father or in other words put themselves over us because we are all slaves and yet in the organization, everyone is labeled just as Jesus said we weren’t supposed to do.

I also don’t agree that anybody should be afraid to examine their own religion but we as Witnesses will be kicked out if we even admit that we read anything that disagrees with our religion and tells anybody what we read, yet we ask all those that we study with to examine their religion against the Bible but we as Witnesses will be disfellowshipped if we did the same thing with our religion and found things that the Organization teaches that don’t jive with what the Bible actually says and we tell anybody what we found. We have to keep quiet or be kicked out. Nobody should be “afraid” to speak out when they see things in their own religion that don’t agree with the Bible. Nobody should be “afraid” to examine their own religion against the Bible and yet we will be disfellowshipped if we did the same thing that we ask other people to do.

We as Witnesses are not allowed to disagree with anything that the Governing Body sees as “new light” and when you think about it, if God wanted everyone to not die at Armageddon, why would his instructions to mankind be so difficult to understand that we would need special people to interpret it for us?

Why not make the instructions easy to understand for all people on earth and not so difficult that only a certain few men in the United States in Brooklyn, N.Y., who would be able to understand it like for instance the Governing Body who claim to be the only ones God is trying to make the Bible understood? Why would God only use those men? Why would God only speak through men? God supposedly made women as well as men so does that mean that God thinks men are superior to women in some way and only speaks through men?

If the Governing Body doesn’t even fully understand the Bible even now after all these years and keep getting “new light”, how smart can they be?

The Bible shouldn’t be that hard to understand if God really didn’t want to kill everybody who didn’t obey him at Armageddon.

@rwin
“About 6 BILLON people will DIE!!!!! And all the o lord save me will not help YOU!!!!!!”

I did not know that God appointed you judge of your fellow man. I thought the scriptures say he appointed Jesus to do so. But perhaps they have made further changes to the silver sword of which I am not aware and they now say that “when RWIN comes in His glory….All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats” ???

Take to heart the scriptures that you obviously claim to hold so dear, so that you might not find yourself a victim of your own self righteousness:

Matthew 7:1-5 “Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged. For with the judgment you use, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, there’s a log in your eye? Hypocrite! First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”